Talk:Desert Hearts

Critical reception
I pulled The film is notable in that it was the first theatrical feature film that portrayed lesbians positively and had a satisfactory ending, contrasting with the previously released Personal Best which ended with one of the women returning to a man. from the article. While I certainly agree with the sentiment it is still impermissibly POV. Otto4711 17:12, 12 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Well, it was controversial at the time and groundbreaking. How does one point that out in a more objective way?Moni3 17:14, 12 July 2007 (UTC)Moni3
 * By finding a reliable source that discusses it. An article from the gay press of the time talking about the portrayal or perhaps something from The Celluloid Closet. Otto4711 17:40, 12 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I found this at afterellen.com: http://www.afterellen.com/Movies/deserthearts.html Shall I rewrite the statement?Moni3 18:01, 12 July 2007 (UTC)Moni3
 * No, wait. This is better: http://www.gay.com/entertainment/news/?coll=pno_entertainment&sernum=4375&navpath=/channels/entertainment/dvd/&page=2 An interview with the director. Let me mix that up and see what I can do with that statement.Moni3 18:13, 12 July 2007 (UTC)Moni3
 * By the way, nice work on the article overall. Otto4711 18:44, 12 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Yay! Thanks! :D Moni3 19:55, 12 July 2007 (UTC)Moni3

Cult movie?
Any grounds to include the movie in this category?. I'll not make the move, I'am afraid of a guy that is deleting my edits as 'unsourced' stuff.IsaacMorrison (talk) 04:12, 13 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Outside of lesbian audiences, I don't know if this movie ever gained any recognition. But it's a classic for lesbians, sadly because very little has come after it that has rivaled its quality. Patricia Charbonneau stated recently that she knew she would never be homeless because of this role. Fans of the movie are so loyal that should would always have some place to stay. --Moni3 (talk) 11:54, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
 * There is no Category:Cult films. It was deleted almost a year ago. Otto4711 (talk) 12:10, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Gia Carangi / Cay character
Gia Carangi's last modeling work was 1983. She "couldn't get work after" that. http://www.giacarangi.com/GiaCarangi.com/Gia_in_Print/Pages/GIas_Last_Photo_Shoot.html#8 Desert Hearts was released in August 1985. By then Gia was working odd jobs and would be hospitalized for AIDS related complications just 10 months later. Thus, "Patricia Charbonneau, in turn, learned that model Gia Carangi patterned herself after Cay's character" isn't accurate because it makes it seem that Cay's portrayal led to Gia's modeling persona when it may have been the other way around. Patricia probably did learn that Ms. Carangi wanted to emulate Cay. A case of life imitating art when art imitated life.

This quote from here: http://www.divamag.co.uk/diva/features.asp?AID=2076 "Another pal described her tomboy persona and relaxed openness about her sexuality as reminiscent of the character Anne in the 1986 film Desert Hearts" hints at the connection (even though it gets the name wrong).

"Friends of Gia described Cay's character as reminiscent of the persona the supermodel built to worldwide acclaim in the early 80s. Patricia Charbonneau, in turn, would learn that model Gia Carangi herself was impressed and wanted to pattern herself after Cay's character."

Saying she patterned herself makes it seem like Cay came first, when by 1985, Gia's modeling career and time in the spotlight was long over. The real story is actually more interesting. Cay was probably inspired by Gia and when she was gone, her friends would point to Cay, saying "that's what she was like." Someone with more talent than me, please write/wikify that!! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.134.247.195 (talk) 18:35, 20 December 2015 (UTC)

Article revamp
You will notice that I have reformatted the article per WP:MOSFILM and WP:FILM, and have been refining and enhancing content. I've tracked down reliable sources, added information, added templates, per MOS added sections *Development and production*, *Release*, *Reception* with sub-sections for critical response/audience response/accolades, *Soundtrack* with *Track listing*, *Home media*, *See also* and *Further reading*; more External links of relevance to the film, and relevant categories. On my to-do list is listening to and reading interviews with Donna Deitch to boost *Development and production* content.

Then (1-7-17) ... and ... Now (2-2-17). I will be contributing additional information and reliable sources per WP:NOR.

Editors in Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia might have better luck in finding URLs for the following citations (archived will probably be the only ones available) and it would be of immense value to the article:

Pyxis Solitary (talk) 08:27, 2 February 2017 (UTC)
 * Scott, Jay. "Shaver carries Desert Hearts". The Globe and Mail, April 11, 1986: p. D1
 * Mills, Kim. "Desert Hearts role pays dividends for actress". The Globe and Mail, May 23, 1986; p. C3.
 * Brown, Geoff. "Cinema review: Feature debut of amazing grace and poise". The Times (London), August 1, 1986, Issue 62524.
 * Anderson, Doug. "Rules of the Heart". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 19, 1996, pg. 15
 * Anderson-Minshall, Diane. "Desert of my Heart: The Lesbian Classic - 20 Years Later", Curve, pp. 62-63, 76. September 2007.

* UPDATE: There's now a *Box office* section, along with more development and production, critical response, and audience response content; and citations from reliable sources. More to come as I continue to dig.

Then (Jan 7, 2017) ... and ... Now (Feb 9, 2017) — Pyxis Solitary (talk) 11:46, 10 February 2017 (UTC)


 * As an admirer of DH who saw the restored print at Sundance I just want to say thank you. Great work! 91.142.222.27 (talk) 03:14, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

The lede
To whom it may concern, there has to be a little bit about this movie's conception in the lede, as well as audience reception from critics and viewers. Blue sphere  14:09, 21 April 2017 (UTC)


 * This is an independent film released in 1985.
 * 5 years before the foundation of the world wide web (in 1990) and 16 years before Wikipedia was launched (in 2001). If you think you can find more information about it to contribute to the lead ... please do so. Pyxis Solitary (talk) 10:10, 29 April 2017 (UTC)
 * I never said you scrutinize every aspects of its production (i.e. development, filming, editing). I think pretty much everything about this movie are covered and supported with references. What I was trying to say was you just summarize in the lead what you have written in the Development and production section. Blue  sphere  14:55, 29 April 2017 (UTC)
 * So far, per WP:FILMLEAD, the first paragraph satisfies the minimum requirement. If no one else steps in to help, then ... when I'm able ... I will compose a succeeding paragraph that dots the necessary "i's" and crosses the "t's". Pyxis Solitary (talk) 08:11, 30 April 2017 (UTC)